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  • Replies: 8

Gardeners of Gaiscioch: can you help with ideas for a container garden problem?

Ban Lorgaire de na Faolchu
Anaitis
Ban Lorgaire de na Faolchu
Posted On: 07/07/2014 at 10:46 PM
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Hi Gardeners of Gaiscioch!

It's the middle of winter here in Perth, Australia - but I still have the gardening bug! We're currently working on setting up some containers for a container vegetable garden (we rent, so can't put in a permanent patch).

I was hoping some of you might have some ideas for a problem that we're having. We managed to scavange some giant pots - the kind trees are put in for sale - which we're ecstatic over. But, we certainly don't want to fill them completely with soil - they'd be way to heavy to move, and the plants won't need the depth. We've been trying to brainstorm ideas of what we could partially fill the pots with before putting in the soil, but some of the ideas have fallen flat because we're trying to do it as inexpensively as possible.

So far, we had the idea that we could find a smaller pot to put upside down into the bigger pot - but I'm kind of loathe to waste a pot that could be growing something in it. We thought about maybe filling it up partly with empty plastic soft drink (soda) bottles, but as we don't really drink the stuff it might take awhile to collect enough (although we might put out the word to family and friends to keep theirs for us). Someone suggested styrofoam, but that's not exactly readily available. Would love to hear any ideas that you might have.

While we're at it - what do you think are the best vegetable/herb combinations for growing in pots?

Thanks!

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Laoch de na Iolair Dearg
Lakshmi
Laoch de na Iolair Dearg
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Replied On: 07/08/2014 at 05:51 AM PDT
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Hi Anaitis,

I do a lot of container gardening -- I had tomatoes right through winter in Colorado (very cold and snowy, not to mention 1400m altitude!).   I use (and adore) a fancy style of container planter (Earthbox) which requires even fancier soil, so I don't think it's what you are after.  

But I have some on-the-cheap thoughts:

  • Google "soda bottle planter".  You'll see lots of creative and successful ideas for using 2L soda bottles themselves as planters.  They are the right size for many plants, easy to water, and small enough to sit on a windowsill or hang in front of a window.
  • Can you cut down the height of the large pots, making them wide & short?  You are correct the heavy planters with lots of soil are a Bad Idea.  You'll need to move plants around often to compensate for the plants' tendency to lean toward the windows.
  • I like the idea of nesting the (hopefully shortened) pots so the bottom one (watertight!)  can catch and hold any overflow water.   Heating can make your indoor environment very dry, so generous watering is a must.
  • You don't say what you'll be using for soil but be sure it's not too far toward clay or sand, lightweight with plenty of water retention.  You may need to add perlite and/or nutrients for the plants to really thrive. 

As for combinations, I suggest planting perennial herbs together in their own container.  My perennials container shifts outdoors every summer and back in for the winter, whereas the annuals 'finish', one way or another, sometime before spring when it's time to start new seedlings for summer.

 

   

 

BTW, I'm a big fan of "watering from the bottom".   Any arrangement that lets your soil wick up water from below uses MUCH less water, and helps retain the nutrients in the soil.  Watering from the top tends to wash the nutrients away.

Hope this helps!  Happy gardening :)

 



» Edited on: 2014-07-08 08:25:46

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Caomhnoir de na Ulchabhan Gorm
Doreth
Caomhnoir de na Ulchabhan Gorm
Replied On: 07/08/2014 at 06:09 AM PDT

think the idea of cutting them down is pretty good unless you can't.. the problem with filling the void at the bottom with bottles or whatever else ( now this depends on how big this void will be)  is that you will find yourself with a lot of stagnant water at the bottom, water sits there for to long it wont be good for your plants....  a deep pot will also be harder to water your plants because water will wash to the bottom and in turn making the water harder for your young plants to get to it....  once they are older this is less of a problem because they will have a good root system to get to it....  large pots are nice to have but make it much harder to control and balance thing for you various plants.... 

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Curadh de na Capall
TuzSeaghdha
Curadh de na Capall
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Replied On: 07/08/2014 at 06:19 AM PDT
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Lakshmi, I love the  "soda bottle planter".  

Anaitis, cutting down the height of the large pots, making them wide & short is an excellent easy and cost free way to go but without knowing what they are made out of or look like it's impossible to know if that's workable but, another option might be to build up the bottom. Take any sheet of wood, plastic, metal, fiber, etc. and use some 2x4's, 1x2's, stripping, molding etc. as hangers and make sure to add holes for drainage. Peg board might work!

Again, without knowing what they are made out of or look like it's impossible to know if that's workable.

Hope we got you thinking! :)

Good luck!

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Laoch de na Iolair Dearg
Lakshmi
Laoch de na Iolair Dearg
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Replied On: 07/08/2014 at 07:03 AM PDT
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Tuz -- I don't have the tools (or patience) to cut glass, but I've seen some lovely pictures of the same style of planter made from old wine bottles too!

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Ban Lorgaire de na Faolchu
Anaitis
Ban Lorgaire de na Faolchu
Replied On: 07/08/2014 at 05:09 PM PDT
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Thanks guys!

No idea why we didn't think of the obvious easy solution of cutting them down. Clearly we're over thinking things hehe The pots are just boring old black plastic the kind you get plants in from a nursery. My husband has concerns that they'll become flimsy if cut down to a shorter size... but I think we might give it a go.

Lakshmi, I'm definitely a fan of watering from the bottom too. Especially with the heat we get in summer. We do have some pots that are the 'self watering' kind, that have the water reservoir at the bottom of them for you to fill. We'll be using those too. Love the 2L soda bottle planter! I'll have to make some.

Keeping perennials together does make a lot of sense. I guess I should split my list of plants into annuals and perennials to help with deciding what goes in with what.

 

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Tiarna de na Iolair Corcra
Jairone
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Replied On: 07/08/2014 at 07:53 PM PDT
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For making the big pots shallower without cutting, you can use the following setup.
First, you use layers of cardboard to give a rigid structure for support.  This allows you to fill up a lot of the space, have a flat surface, and is still light.  Think small boxes a few layers thick.
Second, find a wire basket that will fit over the top layers of cardboard and lie flat on top.  When the cardboard compresses down, as it likely will, the basket will eventually take the weight with the cardboard helping support it.
Third, use tapes and plastic sheeting to make a bowl in the top of the container.  This works to keep the dirt in, and keep water in as well.  Make sure to at least use a double layer of the plastic (four would be my suggestion.)  While doing this, fill the plastic with a small layer of dirt before taping it in place in order to let it settle on the surfaces below.  After taping, fill with dirt to your desired level.

That should give you a light but strong support system, with a water-tight seal.  Of course, you need to find boxes and wire baskets at low cost to use with this, but nothing else is hard to get.  You can always decorate over the top of the plastic and tape that would be on the outside of the container.

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Caomhnoir de na Ulchabhan Gorm
Doreth
Caomhnoir de na Ulchabhan Gorm
Replied On: 07/09/2014 at 03:44 AM PDT

if you worry about the pot being flimsy after you cut it, just use the cut part to double up around the bottom, if your careful when you cut it this shouldn't be a problem...  remember most plants don't need much more then 8 inch's of soil to be healthy..  10 inch's of pot is more then enough if you are thinking of putting some gravel (Styrofoam pieces) to make a water reservoir at the bottom

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Ard Bantiarna de na Fhiaigh Bán
JaeOnasi
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Replied On: 07/17/2014 at 05:21 PM PDT
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Try a little gravel at the bottom for drainage. Also, there's no law saying you have to fill them all the way to the top. If you mix in some peat moss or coco coir to the potting soil, or even vermiculite, that will keep it less heavy too. That being said, go for as much soil as you can. You will have healthier tomatoes. 

Good container varieties are the cherry tomatoes or a variety called 'Heidi' if you would like to start some from seed. Heidi was originally from Cameroon and can tolerate heat nicely. If you need more tomato variety ideas, Tatiana's TomatoBase is a great resource. Your local nursery will also have good ideas for container varieties in your neck of the woods. :)


I grow a bunch of herbs in one of those strawberry pots--a different one in each opening. Rosemary and thyme are fantastic, as is basil. Grow some basil with your tomato as a companion plant. Lemon thyme is fantastic and can go in everything from chicken to stew to biscuits. Mint is also best grown in a pot so that it doesn't become invasive in your garden.



» Edited on: 2014-07-17 17:29:12

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